January 18, 2012

Going to work yesterday was a fail.
I felt like poo, and I probably should have listened to my fiance and stayed home.
Well, now I know.

But since I felt so crappy I needed something to melt that feeling away.
And I had stolen some old bananas from my fiance's mother the other day.
So I made some very delicious banana bread.
... apparently so delicious that only about a third to the loaf still remains the next morning.

2. In a large mixing bowl, combine softened butter and sugar, and beat with a mixer at medium speed, about 3 minutes or until well combined. Add the egg, vanilla, and applesauce, and beat another 2 minutes. Fold in the mashed bananas.

3. Lightly spoon the all-purpose flour and whole wheat flour into dry measuring cups, and level with a knife. Combine the two flours, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt in a separate large bowl.

4. Add the flour mixture to the banana mixture, 1/2 cup at a time, mixing after each addition until moistened.

5. Coat one loaf pan with cooking spray. Pour the batter into the loaf pan.

6. Bake at 350° for 50 minutes to 1 hour, or until a wooden pick inserted in center of the bread comes out clean.

7. Allow the bread to cool in the pan for 5 minutes. Remove the bread and cool slightly on a wire rack.

What comes next is the most important step

8. Wrap the still warm loaf in aluminum foil and let it finish cooling in there. This has been my mom's trick for years and it makes the bread OH-SO-MOIST and AMAZING!

(I apologize the picture is sideways but I haven't figured out how to turn it :( )

January 17, 2012

So I had been planning to make this soup for about a week before I finally had the chance to make it.

Unfortunately yesterday my day was spent in the ER.
Lucky me has a bladder infection.
But, since I am determined and was given some amazing pain stuff, I still made time to make some yummy dinner. :)

Cabbage and Sausage Soup

Ingredients:

1/2 head of cabbage

1/2 white onion

4 cups 99% fat free chicken broth

4 cups of water

1/2 green pepper

1 medium potato

1 can of diced tomatoes

1/2 lb. ground sausage (or whatever meat you prefer)

Directions:

Chop up the cabbage, onion, pepper, and potato and put them into the crockpot. Add the chicken broth and water to the vegetable mix. While those things are heating up in the crockpot, brown the sausage in a frying pan and then add to the crockpot with all those other yummy and delicious things. Put it on medium heat for about 6 hours and when you come back you'll have some yummy goodness. :)

January 15, 2012

So, this is my first attempt at something like this so we'll have to see how it goes. I'll start by telling you a little about myself:
*LOVE baking
*Like to cook, but not as much as baking :)
*LOVE exploring the internet for new recipes
*LOVE family and my fiance
*LOVE traveling and trying new foods
*LOVE dancing and singing
*currently planning my wedding which is 10/13/12
(and doing a horrible job at it thus far)
*Could watch Man Vs. Food, Anthony Bourdain, or Andrew Zimmerman shows all day
*Passion for working out (my fiance thinks I'm crazy.)

That's just some about me. I'm sure you'll find out more as I post.

Today I'll be going to a Bridal Expo up in the Cleveland area so hopefully this will help out with the whole planning thing. (I'll let you know) :)

This is a picture of my fiance and myself. (Isn't he just adorable?!) He's just gotten me a new camera so I look forward to posting many pictures of my adventures and food.